A terrific Choral Suite from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom Of The Opera and part of the Novello Voices Choral Suites Series. Contains: Think Of Me, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, The Music Of The Night, The Phantom Of The Opera and All I Ask Of You . These popular modern songs from one of the most famous West End show have been set by Barrie Carson Turner in fabulous arrangements for SATB and Piano accompaniment. / Chant Et Piano

Kantate Zum Epiphaniasfest. Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. This six-movement cantata uses the hymn of the same name by Ahasverus Fritsch, first recorded in 1698 in the Darmstädter Liederbuch. This places it amongst those chorale cantatas which use a hymn from the repertoire associated with Pietism. As was customary, the hymn text is retained in the outer movements, whereas the text for the inner movements - two secco recitatives and a tenor and a bass aria - are concerned with the contrast between the hostile world and the certainty of Jesus- the links between the cantata text and the Feast of the Epiphany are correspondingly tenuous. In the first movement the soprano sings the hymn melody complete, accompanied by mainly homophonic vocal parts, whilst the instrumental writing is largely influenced by the melody of the first line of the hymn. Remarkable is the tenor aria, with its contrasting central section and its chromatic twists and turns, in which Bach once again proves himself to be a master of harmony. The demands on the chorus are fairly modest, whereas the instrumentalists are challenged in the first movement and in both the arias./ Répertoire / Choeur Mixte (SATB) et Piano

Turn back the clock with this fun-filled, slow-rockin' 50's style piece which spoofs a holiday off-again, on-again romance and ends with the singers not alone beneath the mistletoe. The SoundTrax Cassette features an authentic 50's sound complete with baritone sax. Add staging to make it a real show-stopper. InstruPax includes: director's score, 2 alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, rhythm. / Choeur Mixte (SATB)

The music for this setting of Teasdale's poem highlights the tension in the text between the beauty of nature and the violence human beings inflict on themselves. In the closing measures of the piece, the composer restates the opening line of the text to reinforce the cyclical patterns in nature: despite humanity's penchant toward violence, the rain will come and spring will begin again. / Choeur Mixte (SATB) Et Piano

In the bleak midwinter is a setting for four-part choir of the famous poem by Christina Rossetti. This poem came to mind when I was walking down a Cornish lane on a cold, bleak November day, and I began to put the words to music as I walked. I was a little hesitant to write a setting of this text in the light of other much loved versions, but I felt inspired so decided to go for it! An atmosphere of cold, winter stillness is conveyed in this piece with its gentle dissonances and slow, homophonic movement, and the music follows the natural rhythm of the words, resulting in frequent changes of bar-length. Each verse is set to the same music, but in the final verse the music responds to the climax of the poem, with the words 'give my heart' repeated three times, rising in intensity but then falling away again to finish as the piece began, in quiet stillness. A natural shape and line to each phrase should be led by the text, with subtle shading off and no hurrying at the end of lines. Likewise, the poem's punctuation should guide breathing. Overall, a sense of space should prevail but without the tempo dragging. / Choeur Mixte (SATB) A Cappella

There is no rose of such virtue is an anonymous mediaeval text, already well known through beautiful settings by Britten (in his Ceremony of Carols), John Joubert and others. The poem is 'macaronic' (it presents a verse in English, followed by a varying Latin refrain). This new version follows the illustrious examples above by remaining strophic and presenting broadly the same music in a succession of slightly different guises. The first verse is a straightforward four-part setting, the second gives the melody to the tenors and surrounds them with hushed, wordless writing for the other parts, and the third explores a freely canonic relationship between the tenor and soprano lines before carrying the previous verse-endings to a higher, more exalted pitch and mood. The fourth verse then expands its texture in a free climactic passage evoking the songs of praise sung by the angels. This subsides towards the final verse, where the texture of the music attenuates again to four parts, and canonic writing (based on the first four notes of the original melody) permeates all of them. This slightly extended statement leads to a hushed final cadence. Francis Pott (b. 1957) began musical life as a chorister at New College, Oxford. He held open music scholarships at Winchester College and at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he studied composition with Robin Holloway and Hugh Wood while pursuing piano studies privately in London with the distinguished British artist, Hamish Milne. Throughout the 1990s Francis was John Bennett Lecturer in Music at St Hilda's College, Oxford, and a lay clerk in the Choir of Winchester Cathedral. In 2001 he became Head of London College of Music, University of West London, later leading research across the University's Faculty of Arts and acceding in 2007 to its first Chair in Composition. Francis Pott has become recognised particularly for his sacred choral and organ music. This has been performed in concert and on radio in over three dozen countries worldwide, published by four major UK houses and released extensively on CD. Winner of four national composition awards, in 1997 he received first prize in the piano solo section of the S. S. Prokofiev Composing Competition, Moscow. In 2006 and 2011 he was a nominated finalist in the BASCA/BBC Annual Composer Awards. In summer 2012 he was winner of the international composing competition of the Cheltenham Festival, which sought new piano variations on the arioso song Bist du bei mir, well known in the arrangement by J. S. Bach. Francis lives with his wife and two children on the outskirts of Winchester. An inspiring selection of new works from a range of contemporary composers, the Novello New Choral Series offers pieces for all types of choirs, including sacred and secular works from simple, four-part settings to more expansive, yet accessible, repertoire in an exciting variety of styles. / Choeur Mixte (SATB)

Mary McDonald brings her best once again in this exciting and joyous anthem. With a light calypso touch, this song is total fun! The solo can be sung by a few voices or a single voice. Add the optional chamber orchestration or accompaniment track to enhance the performance. / Choeur Mixte (SATB)

Reverand Chris Anderson has penned some moving words to commemorate the Lenten season. Teaming again with composer Richard A. Nichols, this anthem opens with the choir accompanying a soloist with a cappella loos. The the choir assumes the piece for a few measures before the piano enters. A very effective opening. The modulation from C minor to C Major is another wonderful moment in this piece. / SATB

Opening with an optional solo voice stating the simple yet profound message, this anthem then flows into an elegant choral offering of reflective praise, and concludes with a seamless quotation of 'Lo, How a Rose.' This song has been recorded time and again by leading Christian artists, making it a modern classic. / Choeur Mixte (SATB)

The six collections of 'Vierstimmige Motetten und Arien' published by Johann Adam Hiller offer a selection of motets, mostly from the second half of the 18th century. They show us the products of a new age of achievement in which the motet was again able to flourish after this genre had led only a shadowlike existence for more than a century. The editor of those collections, Johann Adam Hiller, was active as a composer of Singspie, editor of various musical periodicals, leader of the Gewandhaus concerts, University Director of Music, musical director of the Neukirche, and finally, from 1789, Thomaskantor in Leipzig. Upon Hiller's assumption of the office of Thomaskantor theolder motets were replaced in Leipzig church services by contemporary compositions. Printed texts which have been preserved show that Hiller's collections were used widely. A Critical Report from the editor, Uwe Wolf, with additional information concerning the motets and their composers, will be published to cover all the collections. / Mottet / Répertoire / Choeur Mixte

The six collections of four-voiced motets and arias published by Johann Adam Hiller [1780] offer a selection of motets, mostly from the second half of the 18th century. They show us the products of a new age of achievement in which the motet was again able to flourish after this genre had led only a shadowlike existence for more than a century. / Mottet / Répertoire / Choeur Mixte

Par HARVEY JONATHAN. Forms of Emptiness by Jonathan Harvey   Forms of Emptiness is a work for mixed choir which sets words from the Buddhist Heart Sutra, in the original Sanskrit, and three poems by E.E. Cummings. The E.E. Cummings poems all have emphasis on the here and now, on 'catching the joy as it flies'. Seeker of truth Follow no path All paths lead where Truth is here Against these vivid flashes of joy and colour is set a chant - the sanskrit of the Heart Sutra - which acts as a ground from which the 'forms of emptiness' briefly emerge, and against which they are comprehended as transient, scarcely real. There are references to other 'sacred styles' as well as that of the chant - to those of Palestrina and Messiaen for instance. Jonathan Harvey  / Répertoire / SATB

Par PART ARVO. Composed in 1990, and revised in 1991, for SATB Choir or soloists with organ accompaniment, Pärt's setting of The Beatitudes is one of only a handful of works ('Litany' and 'And One of the Pharisees' also falling into that category) composed in English. Taken from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, as found in Matthew 5:3-12, The Beatitudes provide a fitting structure for Pärt's setting. Each verse states a godly quality and the blessing attached to it; all except the last verse begin with the word 'blessed'. The Beatitudes was premiered on 25 May 1990 at the Nathanaelkirche, Berlin, by the Theatre of Voices choir, conducted by Paul Hillier. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which before you. The gospel according to St. Matthew, 5, 3 - 12 / Musique contemporaine / Répertoire / Choeur Mixte SATB et Orgue

Par PERGOLESI GIOVANNI BATTISTA. In 1732 Giovanni Battista Pergolesi composed a setting of the Vespers in honor of St. Emidius, Naples’s patron saint and protector against earthquakes. All that has survived are the introit Domine ad adjuvandum and three psalm settings: Dixit Dominus, Laudate and Confitebor. Malcolm Bruno’s reconstruction consists of Pergolesi’s Hymnus, Magnificat, several short instrumental interpolations, and the contrafactum of a secular cantata for the Salve Regina, thereby presenting a full cross-section of Pergolesi’s artistic evolution. The reconstructed Vespers ranges from the early Confitebor, with its allusions to Vivaldi, to the late Salve Regina with its reminiscences of thefamous Stabat Mater; from contrapuntal choral writing to operatic arias; and from the magnificently scored Dixit to the almost intimate Laudate. The present edition follows the original sources as closely as possible and contains an appendix with detailed notes on performance practice. Performance material available for hire Effective reconstruction of a full-length work Cross-section of Pergolesi’s sacred music Clear and easy-to-play piano reduction/ Répertoire / Solistes, Choeur Mixte (SATB) et Orchestre

Craig McLeish writes of The Negro Speaks of Rivers - Langston Hughes (1902-1967) was the first black American to earn his living from writing. He was an innovator of jazz poetry, becoming part of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s. He wrote plays, short stories, novels, and his poetry was widely read. He was also a journalist, columnist and lecturer. The Negro Speaks of Rivers was perhaps his earliest published work, written when only 17 and while travelling by train to Mexico to visit his father. As the train crossed the Mississippi he suddenly began thinking about how rivers had impacted on Negro history, particularly in the fight against slavery. The four rivers mentioned in the poem lent themselves to using musical influences from those particular regions. However, I have tried to keep these links fairly tenuous to avoid overt pastiche. A few years ago I was fortunate enough to work with Congolese musicians. These sessions led to the intricate rhythms in The Congo . The Mississippi mentions New Orleans, so a jazz fugue seemed the most appropriate compositional device to weave into the texture. The spirit of The Nile was gauged from many hours listening avidly to Egyptian music. Craig McLeish began his musical life as a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral. As a bass guitarist, conductor, musical arranger and composer, he has worked with a wide variety of groups in several genres, and scored a hit with the cult pop band 'Fat and Frantic'. He is musical director of Young Voices UK, and conducts several youth and community choirs in and around Milton Keynes. / Choeur SATB